The Nation Newspaper

Tag: customs

  • Customs seizes N56m goods

    Customs seizes N56m goods

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja Lagos has seized goods worth N56, 479, 200 within two weeks.

    Addressing reporters in Lagos yesterday, its Area Controller, Amade Abdul, said the prohibited items were seized within the two weeks of his assumption of duty at the unit.

    The seized items included 1,887 bags of parboiled rice with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N12, 256,500; 4,854 cartons of smuggled poultry products with a DPV of N26, 211,600 and two vehicles with DPV of N9,990,000.

    Other items seized included new and used tyres, textile materials, vegetable oil, used hoes, fruit juice and spaghetti worth over N8million.

    Abdul said the feat achieved was possible because of the cooperation of  officers posted to the unit.

    “The Unit from August 27 to September 11 had 59 different seizures with a DPV of N56, 479, 200. In addition, we also apprehend eight suspects in connection with the seizures,” he said.

    The Controller said the unit will continue to uphold  standard of service and  work vigorously to improve on it.

    “We will not just maintain standards, but we will also ensure we improve on the standard of discipline, decision making and level of compliance to rules and regulations; we will ensure due diligence and that things are not done haphazardly, because if they are done haphazardly, it will affect the revenue generation,” he said.

    He warned smugglers to desist from their illicit act or be ready to face the law.

    He said smuggling hampers the progress of the economy of the nation if it is not tackle headlong.

  • NEW CUSTOMS BOSS, HAMID ALI, SPITS FIRE ‘I will jail corrupt Customs officers’

    NEW CUSTOMS BOSS, HAMID ALI, SPITS FIRE ‘I will jail corrupt Customs officers’

    • Reads riot act at tension-soaked meeting with service brass

    The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd) on Friday evening said corrupt officers and men of the agency will go to jail.

    He also said all Customs Area Controllers, heads of units and departments will be accountable for infraction dealing with false declaration, deliberate misapplication of the tariff, undervaluation and concealment.

    Ali read the Riot Act at his first meeting with all officers and men at the Customs Headquarters, in Abuja.

    The meeting was a closed door session and the text of Ali’s address was kept under wraps because of the tension which enveloped the meeting.

    Although there was panic among the top brass of the service, Ali said he will reward hard work in the same manner he will punish offenders.

    He said: “Since I took over yesterday (Thursday), I have been receiving briefing notes to enhance my understanding of the Nigeria Customs Service. I have articulated some ideas to start with, and I have found it necessary to share these ideas with you. These ideas shall be the guiding principle and platform for a smooth takeoff.

    “First and foremost, it is important that we know where we are going. We can start by ensuring that we pick up the mantle of Mr. President’s policy thrust. Therefore, in conjunction with you, moving with you and fighting with you we will fight corruption and restore discipline through attitudinal orientation for effective service delivery.

    “However, I must stress this for emphasis. I will not tolerate indiscipline. I will not tolerate corruption. I have zero tolerance for corruption.

    “Considering my military background, I believe punishment must be punitive for others to see it as a deterrent. Therefore, as an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, if you are caught involved in corruption, I am not only going to dismiss you, I will make sure I prosecute and jail you. That is basic!”

    Besides the war against corruption in the service, Ali reeled out 17 other agenda to reposition the Customs service.

    He added: “We will optimally achieve the core statutory functions of the service, of revenue collection, trade compliance, and facilitation, anti-smuggling activities, national security amongst others, based on the service motto of “Honesty and Justice”.

    “We will commensurately further enhance the welfare of officers and men for maximum service delivery.

    “We will ensure the strict application of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) CAP-C45 Laws of Federation of Nigeria (LFN) as amended 2004, Customs codes, Extant Laws and Federal government’s circulars in all customs operations, through training and re-training of officers and men on how to apply them in their day-to-day operations.

    “We will address all anomalies manifest in recruitment, training, posting and promotion of officers and men of the service.

    “All customs officers and men shall adhere strictly to the Customs clearance, guidelines and procedures. All Customs Area Controllers, head of units and departments shall be held accountable for all established infractions to do with false declaration, deliberate misapplication of the tariff, undervaluation and concealment.”

    The new Comptroller-General directed that “All Customs area controllers, heads of Units and Departments shall now send a weekly report on all proven cases of false declarations, deliberate misapplication of tariff, undervaluation, concealment and seizures with full compliments of action taken to the office of the Comptroller-General and all Customs Area Controllers, heads of units and departments will be accountable for infractions in their areas of operations.”

    He added, “The extant procedures of disposal of seizures and overtime cargoes would be comprehensively reviewed to address the current abuse. A public statement shall be issued as soon as the review exercise is complete.”

    Col Ali promised an overhaul of the Legal and Investigation Units of the Service as well strengthening the service to meet the maximum demands of the emerging challenges.

    According to him, “The welfare of officers and men shall remain uppermost in my mind, in the same manner; officers with corrupt tendencies shall not be tolerated. The Customs training colleges in Lagos and Kano and the Academy in Abuja shall be further upgraded to meet the current demand.”

    He directed that the trading public, including Importers, Excise traders, Exporters and Agents are expected to comply strictly with the extant Laws, rules and regulations.

    Also, “The service shall work hand in hand with other critical Agencies including but not limited to the Army, Navy, Air force, Central Bank of Nigeria, DSS, EFCC, ICPC, Immigration, FAAN, NDLEA, NAFDAC, SON, Ports Security, Plant/Animal Quarantine, and NESREA.

    “The service shall also strengthen its existing relationship with commercial Banks, Terminal Operators, Shipping lines, Shipping Agents and various registered and recognized clearing Associations and all the maritime correspondents of the press at our areas of operation.

    He pledged the service’s commitment to International Organisations such as ECOWAS, World Customs Organisations (WCO), World Trade Organisations (WTO) and other International Agencies under the United Nations.

    Ali promised to run a 24-hour policy for legitimate complaints from traders in order to ensure quality service delivery.

    “The office of the Comptroller-General is open 24/7 to the legitimate complaint from members of the trading public in the spirit of optimising quality service delivery,” he added.

  • My Customs mission, by Ali

    My Customs mission, by Ali

    Comptroller-General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari assigned him to do three things in the service.

    They are: to increase revenue generation, restructure Customs and Reform Customs.

    A statement of the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, yesterday noted that Ali spoke during his maiden meeting with the management of the service in Abuja.

    The statement quoted him as telling the senior officers:  “The mandate he (Buhari) has given me are three basic things: go to Customs,  reform Customs, restructure Customs and increase the revenue  generation. Simple. I don’t think that is ambiguous, I don’t think  that is cumbersome. It is precise and I believe that is what all of  you are here to do.”

    He urged the management to work with him to deliver on the mandate.

    [ad id=”403656″]Col. Ali pleaded with the management not to see him as a stranger in the  Customs family, noting that his mission is to strengthen the Service.

    He solicited the loyalty of all officers and men in his  mission for a better service.

    The Deputy Comptroller General covering duties for CGC, John  Atte, while handing over, gave Col. Ali a brief history of the Service and  assured him of unquestionable loyalty of officers and men to work  towards suppression of smuggling and increased revenue collection,  facilitation among others, in the interest of the nation.

    Col. Ali was appointed Comptroller-General of Customs on August 27.

    Born on 15th January 1955 in Dass Local Government of Bauchi State, Col. Ali attended the Nigeria Defence Academy Kaduna, between 1974 and 1977, and the Sam Houston State University, Huntsville Texas, USA, between 1984 and 1988. He holds the Bachelors and Masters degrees in Criminology, and the Nigerian Defence Academy Certificate of Education (NDACE).

    “Col. Ali had a distinguished career in the Nigerian Army during which he served as Military Administrator (MILAD) Kaduna State between 1996-1998 and Colonel Training TRADOC, Minna in 1998.

    “His previous appointments include General Staff Officer II, Military Police Headquarters, 1981-1982, General Staff Officer II, 1 Mechanised Div, Kaduna, 1992, and Commander, Special Investigation Bureau, Apapa, Lagos 1994-1996.”

  • NIBSS battles Chinese, Indian Customs over BVN tools at ports

    NIBSS battles Chinese, Indian Customs over BVN tools at ports

    •Partners telcos on BVN confirmation alerts

    The Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) said its plans to extend the Bank Verification Number (BVN) project to China and India is hampered by delays in clearing project kits from their ports.

    Speaking yesterday during the announcement of partnership between NIBSS and some telecom operators in Lagos, its Managing Director, Ade Shonubi, said some of the devices needed to commence Diaspora BVN registration in both countries are stuck in their ports.

    He said: “We have been unable to get the devices out of the ports. The Customs in those countries are not co-operating with us”.

    Shonubi said NIBSS is working in partnership with telcos to ensure that every one that has been enrolled on the BVN network gets his number through his phone by dialing specified code.

    He said the USSD-BVN Notification Service, will assist the banking sector achieve seamless Know-Your -Customer (KYC) documentation process, and will boost customers’ access to credit.

    The NIBSS boss also said the BVN will enable banks blacklist fraudulent customers and ensure they do not return back to the system.

    Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat, Francesco Anjelone, said the firm is fully in support of the USSD-BVN Notification Service, describing it as an innovation. He said Etisalat keyed into the project because there will be a creation of value for both industries. “The collaboration will strengthen the BVN project,” he said.

    Senior Manager, Airtel, Adefolake Ogunbayo, said Airtel customers will start checking for their BVN from Wednesday next week. She described the partnership with NIBSS as a perpetual relationship that will lead to other services.

    Aside China and India, the NIBSS also is working on extending the BVN project to Washington DC, Johannesburg, and Atlanta. Other cities participating in the scheme are Guangzhou, London, Leicester, Houston and New York City.

    The OIS Services, handling the Diaspora project, is expected to capture necessary data for online transmission to NIBSS, which would thereafter generate the BVN and communicate same to the customer. The Diaspora customer are expected to forward their BVN to their local banks for linkage with their accounts.

    The CBN has also reiterated its support for the BVN project. The regulator said the new guidelines on the BVN enrolment has authorised bank customers in Diaspora to present themselves for enrolment by using foreign based Nigerian banks.

    “The first option is the customers of Nigerian banks to present themselves to the offshore branches or subsidiaries of any Nigerian banks for the BVN enrollment. The deployment of scanners and other devices to these locations have started in earnest,” it said.

  • What Buhari asked me to do in Customs- CGS

    What Buhari asked me to do in Customs- CGS

    New Comptroller-General of Customs, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari assigned him to do three things in the service.

    He has been assigned to increase revenue generation, restructure Customs and Reform Customs.

    According to a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Wale Adeniyi on Thursday, Ali made the disclosure at his maiden meeting with the management of the service at Abuja.

    [ad id=”403656″]The statement quoted him as telling the senior officers that: “The mandate he (Buhari) has given me are three basic things: go to Customs, reform Customs, restructure Customs and increase the revenue generation, simple. I don’t think that is ambiguous, I don’t think that is cumbersome”. It is precise and I believe that is what all of you are here to do.”

    He charged Customs Management to work with him to deliver on the mandate given by President Mohammadu Buhari.

    He pleaded with the Management not to see him as a stranger in the Customs Family, noting that his mission in Customs is to help build and strengthen the Service.

  • Man charged with impersonating Customs chief

    A 26-year-old man Alao Akojiime, was yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly impersonating a deputy comptroller-general of Customs.

    He is facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and impersonation.

    The defendant was said to have presented himself as Peter Akande, a customs chief, on August 12, in order to defraud a job seeker, Samuel Eze.

    He was said to have obtained N33,300 from Eze under the pretence of getting him a job with the Nigerian Customs Service.

    Prosecuting police Inspector Haruna Ibrahim told Magistrate F.F. George that the defendant also advertises and auctions vehicles as a Customs agent to defraud people.

    The defendant, he said, also defrauded others under the guise of obtaining recruitment forms for them into customs.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty. He was granted N50,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    The matter has been fixed for October 2.

  • Man arraigned for ‘impersonating’ Customs Comptroller

    Man arraigned for ‘impersonating’ Customs Comptroller

    For allegedly impersonating a Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, 26-year-old Alao Akojiime was Tuesday arraigned before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court, Igbosere.

    He is facing a four count charge of conspiracy, fraud and impersonation under Sections 409, 312, 285 and 378 ‎ of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

    The defendant was said to have presented himself as the Customs boss, Peter Akande ‎on August 12, in order to defraud a job seeker, Samuel Eze.

    He was said to have obtained N33, 300 from Eze under the pretence of securing him a job with the Nigerian Customs Service.

    Prosecuting Inspector Haruna Ibrahim told the Magistrate F.F. George presided court that ‎the defendant also advertises and auctions vehicles using Customs all to defraud people.

    ‎He alleged that aside the money obtained from Eze, the defendant has defrauded several others in the guise of obtaining recruitment forms into the service.

    ‎The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and was admitted to bail in N50, 000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.

    The matter has been fixed for October 2, for mention.

  • Customs realises N30b

    Customs realises N30b

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, generated N30.1 billion last month.

    The amount is over N5 billion higher than the N24.5 billion it collected in July. The revenue is the second highest it generated after it made N32.4 billion in March.

    Of the amount, N16.082 billion was collected into the Federation Account, and N14.066 billion with the non-federation account.

    Its Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ekpa, said N30.1 billion was collected from import duty on wheat grain, rice levy, sugar levy and seven percent port levy among others.

    He said 39 vessels called at the port during the month under review compared to 51 that called in the corresponding period of 2014, adding that yard occupancy of the port was 45 per cent as against 75 percent in August 2014 while import discharge was 16,983 as against 27,722 of 2014.

    The image maker said despite low vessel calls at the port in August, the command recorded an increase in its revenue profile mainly due to dedication of officers and men of the command.

     

  • Customs hands over suspected traffickers, $271, 135 cash to EFCC

    The Murtala Muhammed Internatonal Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) two persons arrested last week for allegedly attempting to traffic over $271,135.

    The cash was also handed over to EFCC for safe keeping and further investigation.

    Its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Thelma Williams, gave the suspects’ names as: Owolabi Tijani of Patovillki, a cleaning firm at the airport and Uwan Livinus.

    Williams said: “At about 11am on September 3, one Owolabi  Tijani a staff of Patovilki “Cleaning Firm” was apprehended by Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) officials who attempted to smuggle US$271,135 through “D” wing departure screening point.

    “The said Owolabi after interrogation confirmed to FAAN Officials names of people involved in the crime, including  Mrs Omo Seun (Iya Urobo) and Uwan Livinus.

    “Statements were therefore taken from the suspects and officers who witnessed the process.”

     

  • Currency traffickers arrested at Lagos airport

    The Nigeria Customs  Service operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) ) two persons arrested last week  for attempting to traffic over $271,135 out of the country .

    The public relations officer of the Airport Customs Command, Thelma Williams, gave the names of the two persons as – Mr.  Owolabi Tijani, a staff of Patovillki, a cleaning firm at the airport and one Mr. Uwan Livinus .

    She said the money was handed over to the EFCC for safe keeping.

    Williams said the commission will carry out thorough investigation on the circumstances leading to the crime.

    She said:” At about 11.00hrs on September 3, 2015, one Owolabi  Tijani a staff of Patovilki, cleaning firm was apprehended by FAAN officials while attempting to smuggle $271,135 through “D” wing departure screening point.

    “The said Owolabi after interrogation confirmed to FAAN Officials names of people involved in the crime, including  Mrs. Omo seun (Iya Urobo) and Uwan Livinus.

    “Statements were therefore taken from the suspects and officers who witnessed the process.”